The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1887-08-19
OLD SMITHS ROMANCE

actually detected in the clandestine
acquaintance with q certain pretty
milliner girl in the town OF Filstone,
where the regiment was quartered,
the announcement was received partly
with amusement and partly with in
credulity.
Smith was a quiet, retiring man,
perfectly harmless, very good natured,
the guide, philosopher and friend OF
youngsters, although he was made a
butt by these same youngsters, on
account OF his awkwardness and his
mysterious habits, and MS univer
sally respected, as he had shown con.
spicuous gallantry among the zercbas
OF tho Soudan. AS he was a poor
man, and remained in the regiment
partly out OF sheer affection for the
service and partly because he was at
an age when it is difficult to embark
upon q new course of life, he mixed
but little in thegaities and hospitality
for which the Hopshire was famous,
spent his time principally among his
DOohS, tlidp ! Wv SSliSi Wy cSiiSNSo,
in adding TO his professional income
by contributing to periodical litera-
tGre.
The object OF old Smith'sintentions,
it was reported, was Grace Clough-a
pretty, modest, well behaved girl, who
occupied a position in the millinery
establishment OF Ruche & Bustle, and
aftet whom the subs in the battalion
were raving. although not q word had
aver been breathed that she had in the
slightest degree outstepped the bounds
of proprety. or had upon any occa-
sion behaved herself otherwise than
modestly and becomingly. OF these
smittcn youngsters zone was o ar
dent in his professions OF admiration,
and none could congratulate himself
upon having made n nearer approach
to conquest than the harum-scarum,
devil-may-care Honorable Bob Top
sham, eldest o OF Lord Cray, upon
whose authority the news OF old
Smiths attachment had been spread
abroad.
At first the notion that old Smith
could have succeeded in cutting out
the handsome, titled young sub was
secuted as ridiculous, for Smith was
not exactly OF the age and appearance
to win the love OF a girl at whose feet
a score of eligible bachelors OF good
position and qualifications were ready
to throw themselves. 1t was very
well known, too, that he was not in a
position to support q wife, and his
character stood too high for any one
to dare to breathe q hint that his in.
tentions toward such q girl would
be anything but strictly honorable,
But Bob Topsham invited his
brother subs to see for themselves,
and arranged that after mess one
evening they should accompany him
into the town, conceal themselves
and keep watch on the premises o.
Ruche & Bustle at the hour when the
young ladies ofthat famous emporium
were liberated from their days servi
tude. This they did, and they were
rewarded by seeing old Smith walking
up and down the'street in the true
cavalier style, to be presently Joined
by Oracle, who greeted him with cor
diality. and, putting her arm in his
went off with him in the direction o
the pleasant fields by which Filstont
is surrounded.
The young gentlemen, with the ex
ception OF Bob Topsham. regarded
the affair as an excellent joke, and re
solved that old Smith should hear o
its discovery in divers pleasant ways
but Bob Topsham took it very seri
ously, for he was head over heels il
love with the girl, and up to n recen'
date had good reason to believe tina
his affection was reciprocated, ant
that he held undivided possession o
her heart.
OF course every II knew that be
tween Bob Topsham and Graci
Clough d very intimate understandln
existed, but the young gentlemen hat
already fallen in love half a dozel
times, and the idea was never enter
tanned for q moment that theprospec
tive Lord Cray, the heir OF one of tn
proudest noblemen in the country
seriously meditated matrimonial
union with a provincial shopgirl; 81
that he was made the subject Of in
Vulnerable witticisms anent the ne,
rival who had suddenly appeared o.
the field. The result WAS that a cool
ness sprang up between him and oil
Smith, though they had hitherto bee
on the best terms with each other
and it became ve;y evident to tn
only onlookers, who hailed with dc
light anything which promised to var,
the m%onotony OF barrack life in
quiet old country town, that the q
fair would soon assume q serious as
pect.
The climax came in due course
BobTopsham had seen Grace, and tn
following conversation had ensued bt
tween them:
81 say, Oracle" said the Honorabl
Bob, 81 wish you'd put me out OF M
misery and tell me plainly how MAJ
tiers stand between us. You've sal
scores OF times that you care MOI
for me than Tor any other fellow. Nv
sworn to you that ] never could Low
another gIrl, and yet I've found on
that not only are you in the habit {
meeting Smith OF ours, but That 20
treat hitu just like a favored lover
fact, you do with him what you,
never doEe with me, you go out walk
with him, and | can't help thinkir
that you're playing a double game.
The girl seemed very much dejecte
at these accusations, and at lengt
hesitatin.ly replied: DWELL, Bob, II
sorry you have such a poor opinio
OF me-. I've told you that l love yo,
and it is not likely that should sa
such a thing and at the same time
carrying on-as you term it-with a.
other man. But l think that our a
tachment is altogether an unfortunat
affair. know I've done wrong in el
%couraging you, but l have not bee
able to help it, because | have nc
been able to help loving you. Don
you think that we had better nc
meet any more, and try to forget q
that has passed between us?"
The young officer stared in amaz
ment and exclaimed: "Why, Graci
you don't mean to say that you,
going to. throw me over like this?"
"No. Bob, don't want to do an
thing OF the sort" replied the gil
"bnt am anxious to act for yo'
good-ior the good of both OF US
really, truly, and honestly l d
Please don't accuse me of any 9th
motive. Just think over our pos
ton. On the one side there is you
heir to a great name, your father
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